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VitaminDLSS
Participant
March 11, 2010
Question

Looking for Enlightenment: A question on 2-column single flow

  • March 11, 2010
  • 3 replies
  • 775 views

First, the basics: I’m using FrameMaker 8.0p22, unstructured. I’m a longtime FrameMaker user and forum-reader, first-time poster. Today is a precedent, the first time in five years that I’m not able to solve a problem by reviewing the old posts!

ANYWAY, the details:

  • I am creating a new template for existing (inherited) content arranged in books with 15+ chapters made up of 3000+ insets total. Each chapter is approximately 120 pages; graphics are included, imported by reference. Please note that ALL content is derived from insets, there are no stand alone headings, graphics, etc.

  • The new template requires a side bar on each right/left page on the left of the page (not my idea, or desire). The side bar will contain random definitions and notes pertaining to the topic in the right column.

  • I understand, and expect that a lot of initial work and time will be required to transition the existing content into the new format.

    THE QUESTION: Since the content in the left sidebar will be directly related to content in the right-side column, what is the best method to keep the information in separate columns, but aligned and importable? Is this even possible to do, or do with the aforementioned amount of insets, and in such a way that it will be easy to maintain in the long term?

    Using multiple flows wouldn’t work (or at least I don't think so) and the idea of building all the content into tables seems like a difficult workaround…that being said, I think (I hope) there is a solution or some other facet of the program I’m overlooking, and I’m counting on someone out there to be able to enlighten me to it!

    Also, if you feel this is not possible or easily maintainable or absolutely not worth the trouble, please let me know that as well. My powers that be are open to alternatives.

    A thousand thanks for your assistance, now and in the past,

    Diane

        This topic has been closed for replies.

        3 replies

        V
        VitaminDLSSAuthor
        Participant
        March 11, 2010

        Arnis, Peter and Van,

        Thank you for your comments; the thought of using side heads didn't occur to me! I will investigate and let you know my findings.

        Thanks again,

        Diane

        David_Crowe
        David_Crowe
        Inspiring
        March 12, 2010

        Developing the sidehead idea: if you make the sidehead paragraph empty, and just a holding-point for a table, you can put as many paragraphs in the table as you want. The table shouldn’t exceed the width of the sidehead column, in order not to break the main text flow.

        P
        peter minneapolis
        Participating Frequently
        March 12, 2010

        David Crowe wrote:

        Developing the sidehead idea: if you make the sidehead paragraph empty, and just a holding-point for a table, you can put as many paragraphs in the table as you want. The table shouldn’t exceed the width of the sidehead column, in order not to break the main text flow.

        Neither sidehead paraagraphs nor table cells can break across frame boundaries. Setting the table position to Float doesn't seem to offer as much control over alignment in the sidehead as the sidehead paragraph alignment properties - first/last baseline, top edge, or as is. Anchoring a table in a sidehead paragraph with negative space below does offer finer adjustment.

        NOTE: I've had crashes while trying some of these fancy positioning adjustments, separately, or in combination. I use FrameMaker on Windows 7 under VMware Fusion2 on a Mac PowerBook Pro, so perhaps these problems won't appear in a standard Windows installation.

        EDIT:

        I'm using FrameMaker 9.0p196

        /EDIT

        HTH

        Regards,

        Peter

        _______________________

        Peter Gold

        KnowHow ProServices

        P
        peter minneapolis
        Participating Frequently
        March 11, 2010

        VitaminDLSS wrote:

        First, the basics: I’m using FrameMaker 8.0p22, unstructured. I’m a longtime FrameMaker user and forum-reader, first-time poster. Today is a precedent, the first time in five years that I’m not able to solve a problem by reviewing the old posts!

        ANYWAY, the details:

        • I am creating a new template for existing (inherited) content arranged in books with 15+ chapters made up of 3000+ insets total. Each chapter is approximately 120 pages; graphics are included, imported by reference. Please note that ALL content is derived from insets, there are no stand alone headings, graphics, etc.

        • The new template requires a side bar on each right/left page on the left of the page (not my idea, or desire). The side bar will contain random definitions and notes pertaining to the topic in the right column.

        • I understand, and expect that a lot of initial work and time will be required to transition the existing content into the new format.

          THE QUESTION: Since the content in the left sidebar will be directly related to content in the right-side column, what is the best method to keep the information in separate columns, but aligned and importable? Is this even possible to do, or do with the aforementioned amount of insets, and in such a way that it will be easy to maintain in the long term?

          Using multiple flows wouldn’t work (or at least I don't think so) and the idea of building all the content into tables seems like a difficult workaround…that being said, I think (I hope) there is a solution or some other facet of the program I’m overlooking, and I’m counting on someone out there to be able to enlighten me to it!

          Also, if you feel this is not possible or easily maintainable or absolutely not worth the trouble, please let me know that as well. My powers that be are open to alternatives.

          A thousand thanks for your assistance, now and in the past,

          Diane

            • If it's possible to insert the sidebar content in the inset source files, alignment might manage itself. Sideheads, as Arnis suggested, may work in the imported insets. If not, anchored frames may.

            HTH

            Regards,

            Peter

            _______________________

            Peter Gold

            KnowHow ProServices

            Van Kurtz
            Van Kurtz
            Inspiring
            March 11, 2010

            I agree with Peter that maintainability of the alignement would be easier if the left-column content can be made part of the text insets themselves.

            I agree with Arnis about using a side-head paragraph format. If the left-column content is not too complex, you might be able to get round the one-paragraph issue that Arnis mentions by using line breaks. For example, two line breaks in a row can look like an blank line between two paragraphs.

            Van

            Arnis Gubins
            Arnis Gubins
            Inspiring
            March 11, 2010

            Have you tried using Sideheads for the content in the "sidebar"? This gives you various alignment options, however if the imported content exceeds a paragraph in length, then you'll have alignment issues. In that case, I think an Anchored Frame (containing a text frame) set to be outtside of the main flow text frame will be the only other option. However, you'll have to manually resize these to fit the imported content.

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